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Club Rides

Escape Velocity offers a variety of different rides that are tailored to different fitness and experience levels. Details of our rides are subject to seasonal changes and adjustments for weather conditions. Please consult our EV Calendar for up-to-date information.

New and guest riders:

If you are interested in joining EV and are a newcomer or guest on one of our group rides, some things you should know before turning up:

Please contact us before you come, or if you have questions about our club rides.

If you're ready, you're invited to ride with us for a maximum of three regular Saturday rides to evaluate whether our club is a good match for you, or whether you need to continue searching for a club that better suits your interests. If you do enjoy the riding, the company and what our club offers, we'd love to have you join our club.

Any non-member who participates in our events must complete and submit a signed waiver. Bring this with you if it's your first ride. Sorry, no waiver, no ride, no exceptions.

When participating in our group ride, the ride leaders may offer participants friendly advice, reminders or instructions during the ride. Even if you are an experienced rider, please pay heed to our ride leaders as different clubs may have different conventions or customs and do things differently. We aim to provide a safe and fun experience for everybody.

Group A Weekend Rides

This Saturday club ride caters to mid-level riders (e.g., Cat 1-4) with solid group riding experience and who have an interest in training and a commitment to gradual fitness improvement.

Route: Our routes vary during good weather seasons and could include the North Shore, Lion's Bay or beyond, Buntzen Lake/Belcarra, Richmond/Surrey/Ladner, cross-border destinations, Fraser Valley. Most long rides will include rest breaks or coffee stops. During winter and bad weather days, a non-technical route will be chosen, which typically is a Richmond loop.

Pace: typically 32-35 km/h rolling pace (3+ hrs) with occasional structured drills thrown in. These sections will be identified by the ride leader at the start of the ride and before the drills begin. This is nominally a drop ride, although in practice, we regroup after hard sections e.g. hills, mishaps and mechanical problem.

Group B Weekend Rides

This ride is the best choice for new riders looking to gain confidence and skills riding in a group. It’s also for EV members who enjoy riding at a slightly more relaxed pace or who are at an earlier stage in their annual training. Part instruction, skills practice and road riding, this is a no drop ride with an emphasis on cycling safely and structured pack pacelines from our experienced coach and ride leaders.

Route: varies but typically will not be longer than what you can cover in 3 hours.

Pace: chosen by ride leader but not intended to put anyone into the hurt zone.

Weekday Rides

EV also organize weekday rides for established members, usually on a Tuesday or Thursday night, depending on the season. Details on the EV Calendar.

Team Training Rides

Some of the EV rides are planned based on consultation with our coaches

Winter Riding

EV is one of the few clubs in the Lower Mainland that rides all year-round, cancelling only when the weather makes it impossible to ride safely (snowy, icy or extremely cold conditions). During the winter, it is often cool and wet, so from September-March, fenders with proper extension flaps are mandatory for all participants in our group rides. If you attend without proper fenders, you may be asked by the ride leaders to sit at the back of the group as a gentle reminder to come better prepared. Repeat offenders may be excluded from participation until the necessary equipment is installed.

Extension flaps should be no more than 3” from the ground. A (tongue-in-cheek) visual guide:

Group Ride Etiquette Skills and Signals:

Stick to the Plan

EV group rides incorporate training structure designed by professional coaches to work on skills and fitness (Don’t worry, they are still fun!). Some parts of our rides have planned drills or pace recommendations that work on a specific skills or energy system. It is important that riders follow the plan. Ride leaders will announce the plan at the beginning of the ride and again before we are to begin a specific drill. If you are unsure as to what is happening just ask a ride leader.

Ride Predictably and Safely

Always remember that when riding in a group, every rider must take responsibility for the safety of those around them. Behave in a predictable manner and indicate your intentions. Avoid sudden braking or swerving. Use hand signals or other gestures to point out hazards, obstacles, and turns well in advance.

Group Riding Basics and Hand Signals

With the exception of the announced drills and sections announced by ride leaders, the rest of the ride should maintain a steady rolling pace. Avoid sudden surges, accelerations, or decelerations.

Large group rides usually use a double paceline. If the road narrows and you hear “single up!”, it's time to switch to a single paceline. Rotation off the front of the group is as illustrated.

Two riders should stop to help if a rider suffers a mechanical. If you are the last rider in the group and you see someone get dropped, stop and offer to pace them back up to the group at the next regroup point.

Stopping: Signal and yell to alert the riders behind you that you are stopping or slowing.

Signal by waving your hand behind your back in the direction you wish to move in order to avoid obstacles ahead.

Point out hazards and obstacles in the road if you are at the head of the paceline and steer the group around it.

A gentle flick of the elbow indicates that you want the next rider(s) to pull through.

Images courtesy of cyclingtips.au

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